Page 117 of I Dare You

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“Thank you,” I reply, my voice wavering.

“Thank you?”he questions.“I should be the one thanking you.”

I can’t keep the smile from my face.“No.”I turn serious.“Thank you for making me feel safe.”

He’s silent.

I wonder if he’s fallen asleep.

A few minutes later, he drowsily replies, “Always.You’re my girl.”

With that promise between us, I close my eyes and fall asleep in the arms of the man who has changed so much.

“Soon…”

Jupiter’s voice wakes me from the deepest slumber.

I’m warm.

And content.

And that’s because Kit Rivers sleeps soundly beside me.

Thinking about last night sends shivers down my spine.

It was perfect, as clichéd as that sounds.

And so is he.

I never expected to feel this close to someone, yet sharing a bed with Kit now feels natural.I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak, and that is Jupiter.She seems to strike when I’m happy.

So no doubt, I’ll be hearing from her soon.

I need to use the bathroom, so I quietly get out of bed and open the dresser drawer, finding a pair of basketball shorts and a T-shirt.I dress and softly close the door behind me.

Once I use the toilet, I gargle some mouthwash and wash my face.I peer at my reflection in the mirror above the sink.

I don’t look any different.Not that I expected to.But I feel different.I feel…relieved.

Deciding to make some coffee, I walk to the kitchen and hunt through Kit’s cupboards to find what I need.

“Morning.”

I yelp, almost dropping the mug I’m holding as I spin to see Dandy in the doorway with a knowing grin.

He knows what Kit and I got up to last night.

Oh God, did he hear?

I am so embarrassed.

“Trust me, I’m more horrified than you,” he quips as he enters the kitchen and starts making coffee.

His comment breaks the tension.

I stand beside him, silently passing him a coffee mug.“So?—”

“So—” I repeat, my cheeks turning red.

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